Introduction

Helping students in Special Education develop their social skills is a crucial aspect of their learning journey. One important skill that fosters better communication and collaboration is the ability to make plans with friends. This blog post will provide an overview of the process of making plans, a no-prep activity to teach this skill, discussion questions to stimulate further learning, and related skills that can enhance students’ social-emotional development.

No-Prep Activity: The Planning Game

This activity requires no preparation or materials from the educator, and it aims to help students practice making plans with friends in a fun and interactive way. The Planning Game is a simple role-play activity that can be done in pairs or small groups. Here’s how it works:

1. Pair students together or divide them into small groups.
2. Assign each pair or group a scenario, such as going to the movies, planning a picnic, or organizing a study session.
3. Students should take turns suggesting ideas and making decisions about what to do, where to do it, when to meet, and how to get there.
4. Encourage students to listen to each other, consider their friends’ preferences, and come to a consensus on their plans.
5. After the activity, have a brief discussion about how the plans were made and what they learned from the experience.

Discussion Questions

Use these questions to facilitate further discussions about making plans with friends:

1. Why is it important to listen to your friends’ ideas and preferences when making plans together?
2. How can you make sure everyone’s needs are considered when making a plan?
3. What are some challenges you might face when making plans with friends, and how can you overcome them?
4. How can you be flexible and adapt when plans change or don’t go as expected?
5. What other social skills can help you make plans more effectively with friends?

Related Skills

In addition to learning how to make plans with friends, students in Special Education can benefit from developing other related social-emotional skills, such as:

• Active Listening: Being able to listen to others and understand their feelings and perspectives is crucial for successful communication and collaboration.
• Empathy: Developing empathy helps students understand their friends’ feelings and needs, making it easier to create plans that everyone will enjoy.
• Problem-solving: Learning how to identify and solve problems that arise during the planning process can lead to more successful and enjoyable experiences with friends.
• Assertiveness: Encouraging students to express their opinions and preferences respectfully will help them feel more confident and engaged in the planning process.

Next Steps

Now that you have a better understanding of how to teach students in Special Education the essential skill of making plans with friends, it’s time to put these ideas into practice. To help you get started, we invite you to sign up for free samples of this skill and others at Everyday Speech. These resources will provide you with engaging and effective tools to help your students develop their social-emotional skills and create lasting connections with their peers.